Liberia’s kush crisis: The hidden trade behind a generation at risk
Summary
Liberia is facing a crisis with kush, a cheap and addictive synthetic drug that is affecting many young people. The drug trade behind kush is large and complex, with huge amounts of cocaine seized recently, but the justice system convicts only a few traffickers.Key Facts
- Kush is a synthetic street drug spreading in Liberia and West Africa.
- Many young people addicted to kush have dropped out of school and become homeless.
- Liberia declared drug abuse a public health emergency in 2024.
- Government drug rehabilitation centers in Liberia are unfinished or limited.
- The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency arrested 1,167 people for drug trafficking between September 2025 and June 2026.
- Liberian courts convicted only 8 people during the same time, raising concern about the effectiveness of the justice system.
- Two large cocaine seizures were made: one of 237.6 kg valued at $19.2 million, and another nearly 4 tonnes valued at $317 million.
- These seizures indicate a large drug trafficking network operates through Liberia, despite community struggles with addiction.
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